Volleyball Storms into the Semifinals; Will Take On Coastal Carolina

Just one day after receiving some much-deserved recognition in the Big South year-end awards, the Bulldogs shone again on the court last night. UNC Asheville (25-9) cruised past hosting Radford in the quarterfinals of the Big South tournament 25-21, 25-19, 25-15. The victory sets up a semifinal showdown tonight against a Coastal Carolina squad that accounts for two of the Bulldogs’ three conference losses this season.

Three Bulldog players – Kelsey Benorden, Raquel Miotto, and Lauren Ficker – were named First Team All-Conference, UNC Asheville’s Julie Torbett was named Coach of the Year, and Bridgett Holiday was chosen for the All-Academic team by the Big South sports information directors on Wednesday. Benorden earned her second First Team selection after leading the conference in double-doubles, and ranking second in kills and ninth in digs. Miotto (who was the runner-up to Winthrop’s Kelley Taylor in Player of the Year voting) makes the team for the third time. She led the Big South in digs and aces per set, and this season became the Big South’s all-time career leader in digs. Ficker earned her first all-conference selection this season after leading the team in total kills and posting the second-highest single season attack percentage in UNC Asheville history. This is the second time Torbett, the Big South career leader in wins, has received Coach of the Year honors (the first came in 2002).

On Thursday night, the Bulldogs took to the court to defend their regular season championship in the Big South tournament. UNC Asheville took advantage of early runs in each of the three sets to achieve separation and remain in control throughout the match. Although the Bulldogs only hit .185, they were able to limit Radford to a meager .056. Benorden turned in her 19^th double-double of the season, with 15 kills and 17 digs. Miotto posted 22 digs and one service ace – breaking Frida Sigurdardottir’s single-season school record set in 2002. Sophomore Cindi Miller was also in double figures with 10 kills.

Tonight’s semifinal matchup against Coastal Carolina will challenge the Bulldogs. In each contest against Coastal this season, UNC Asheville came out on the wrong side of a five-set battle. At the Justice Center on November 13^th, the Bulldogs held a 2-0 advantage after the first two sets, but the Chanticleers stormed back, winning three straight for the victory. Early in the match, the Coastal attack centered on First Team All-Conference selection Chelsy Kimes, who finished the match with 22 kills, 10 digs and 4 blocks. The Chanticleers had much more success in the final two sets, however, when they were able to incorporate some diversity into their offense. Big South Scholar Athlete of the Year Jill Nyhof posted 15 kills (most in the final sets) to go with an incredible .667 attack percentage and 9 blocks. Fresham of the year Sierra Livesay also came on strong later in the match to finish with 16 kills and 19 digs. These teams know each other well after 10 sets during the regular season, so expect a close battle tonight.

If the Bulldogs are able to outlast Coastal Carolina tonight, they will face the winner of this afternoon’s semifinal between Liberty and Charleston Southern in the championship match on Saturday.

Go Dogs!!!

Vollyball Goes For the Title this Weekend

The Bulldogs return home to the Justice Center this weekend with the opportunity to capture a conference title. UNC Asheville will host Coastal Carolina at 7pm on Friday, followed by a 2pm date with Winthrop on Saturday. A victory in either match earns the Bulldogs a share of the conference title and the top seed in next weekend’s Big South tournament. Two wins (or one win and a Liberty loss) would give UNC Asheville the regular season championship.

Coastal Carolina (16-12, 9-5) handed the Bulldogs their first conference loss of the 2009 season on October 17, in a tightly contested five set match in Conway, S.C. Three Chanticleers posted double-doubles in that match. Junior Chelsy Kimes, who ranks second in the Big South in kills, was the top performer for Coastal with team-highs in kills (15) and digs (19). Classmate Amanda Russell (11 kills, 13 digs) and freshman Sierra Livesay (10 kills, 14 digs) also had big days. The Chanticleers have a variety of talented offensive players and are also one of the best in the conference in terms of blocks. Junior Megan Bickford had five blocks against the Bulldogs, in addition to 15 kills and a .324 hitting percentage, and senior Jill Nyhof ranks third in the league in blocks this season.

UNC Asheville will conclude the regular season with its Senior Day match against Winthrop (18-9, 10-4). On October 16, the Bulldogs defeated Winthrop in four sets on the road, but the Eagles are an elite team and will be prepared for the rematch. Winthrop leads the Big South in team hitting percentage and has two players among the top ten in kills – senior Kelley Taylor and junior Kaley Viola. Viola posted a double-double in the loss to Asheville with 11 kills and 11 digs. The Eagles are also have a strong setter – junior Kelsey Hall leads the conference in assists – and libero. Junior Ginnie Talley ranks among the top ten in both digs and service aces, and notched 12 digs and two aces against Asheville. Winthrop has suffered two losses in its last four outings (against Liberty and Coastal Carolina), but got back on track with a decisive three set victory over Presbyterian on Saturday.

The Bulldogs will need to be at their best to defeat two opponents of this caliber, but the team carries a great deal of momentum into the weekend. Asheville reeled off three consecutive tough road victories last week to claim first place in the Big South, and will be eager to defend that position. Following a phenomenal showing over that three match stretch, Kelsey Benorden was named National Player of the Week by the Collegiate Volleyball Update.

This is a great weekend to see high-level volleyball at the Justice Center, and the last chance to see the 2009 Bulldogs at home. Come out to support the team as they fight for a conference championship.

Go Dogs!!

Volleyball Reclaims First Place With Two Thrilling Wins

The Bulldogs wrapped up a four match road trip over the weekend with victories in pivotal contests against Liberty and High Point. On Friday night, UNC Asheville defeated Liberty in four sets (25-18, 21-25, 25-21, 25-20) in a battle for sole possession of first place in the Big South conference. On Saturday afternoon, the Bulldogs held on to their advantage with a win in four (25-16, 13-25, 26-24, 25-21) against an improved High Point squad.

Friday’s contest matched the two teams that have topped the Big South standings all season long. The Flames (16-11, 11-3) hoped to even the season series after a 3-1 defeat at the Justice Center on October 10^th, but were overpowered by the Asheville attack. Kelsey Benorden produced 25 kills, a .370 hitting average, 15 digs, and 2 blocks, to lead the charge. Cindi Miller chipped in 10 kills, Rachel Guinane had 43 assists, and three other Bulldogs added double-figure digs – Raquel Miotto (24), Bridgett Holliday (19), and Brooke Holliday (12). Liberty was powered by a pair of preseason all-conference selections. Chelaine McCarty turned in 16 kills while hitting .282, and Nicki Scripko posted team-highs in kills (17) and digs (16).

On Saturday afternoon, Asheville was able to avoid any hangover from the previous night’s victory and came away with a critical win against a High Point team that has improved dramatically since falling in consecutive sets at the Justice Center on October 9. After dropping the first set, High Point (16-15, 5-9) dominated the second, but was unable to hold off the Bulldogs from that point. High Point had four players post double-digit kills led by Courtney Johnk (14), and four Panthers recorded over 10 digs, including conference digs leader Julie Hershkowitz (25). The Bulldogs benefitted from another dominating performance by Benorden, who registered 20 kills, a season-high 28 digs, and 3 blocks. It was her 16^th double-double of the season. Lauren Ficker added 13 kills, Guinane supplied 45 assists and, not to be outdone, Miotto turned in a match-high 32 digs.

When the Big South’s weekly awards were announced today, it came as little surprise that Benorden was named Player of the Week and Miotto Defensive Player of the Week. Including Tuesday’s win at Gardner-Webb, the Bulldogs went 3-0 on the road against a very tough conference slate. Benorden posted 61 kills, a .306 hitting percentage, and 58 digs over the three match stretch. She eclipsed the 1,000 career kills/1,000 career digs milestone on Tuesday night and now ranks first in the Big South in kills with 4.12 per game and ninth in digs with 3.52 per game. Miotto tallied 72 total digs this week, along with 4 service aces. The senior from Brazil now ranks 5^th on the NCAA all-time digs list, and is second in the Big South in digs this season with 5.05 per game. Ficker and Guinane were also standout performers this week. Ficker now leads the Big South in hitting percentage at .379. Guinane had 128 assists on the week, and improves to third in the conference in that category, averaging 10.63 per game.

The Bulldogs (23-8, 12-2) will defend their conference lead as they wrap up the regular season at the Justice Center this weekend. Asheville hosts fourth-place Coastal Carolina on Friday, followed by the season finale against third-place Winthrop on Saturday. UNC Asheville clinches the Big South regular season championship and the number one seed in the conference tournament with a victory in either match.

Benorden Reaches Milestone in Volleyball Win

UNC Asheville came away with a critical road victory against Gardner-Webb last night, taking the match in four sets (25-23, 25-16, 21-25, 25-18). The Bulldogs (21-8, 10-2) were able to get back on track after their loss to Charleston Southern on Saturday, while Gardner-Webb (11-17, 3-8) lost ground in the Big South race with a second consecutive conference loss.

The victory was especially significant for outside hitter Kelsey Benorden, who contributed 16 kills, 15 digs, and a .341 hitting percentage to the effort. The junior became only the 10^th player in the history of the UNC Asheville volleyball program to total both 1,000 career kills and 1,000 career digs. Tuesday’s match was also the 14^th double-double of the season for Benorden.

Two other Bulldogs also reached statistical landmarks in the win. Senior Raquel Miotto, whose conquest of the UNC Asheville and Big South career digs records this season has been more publicized, is on the verge of eclipsing a school record in an entirely different statistical category. Miotto had three service aces on Tuesday, bringing her total this year to 58. That single-season mark is good enough to place Miotto in a tie for third, just four aces behind Frida Sigurdardottir’s school record, posted in 2002.

Fellow senior Lauren Ficker also had a red-letter night with 12 kills and a .476 hitting percentage. Thanks to that showing, Ficker now leads the Big South in conference play hitting percentage.

The Bulldogs came out on top of a see-saw battle in the first set, then pulled away in the second on a 12-3 run highlighted by three kills from sophomore Cindi Miller. A 13-1 run by Gardner-Webb in the third prolonged the match, but UNC Asheville took an early lead in the fourth set and held on for the victory which came, appropriately, on a service ace from Miotto.

The victory moves the Bulldogs into a tie atop the Big South with Liberty, setting up a showdown on Friday night in Lynchburg with sole possession of first place at stake. UNC Asheville defeated Liberty in four sets at the Justice Center on October 10, but the Flames are a formidable foe. Liberty (15-10, 10-2) has won its last five conference matches and is undefeated at home in regular season play.

Volleyball Preview: Presbyterian

UNC Asheville goes for another conference win on Tuesday night when it hosts Presbyterian at the Justice Center. The conference-leading Bulldogs (19-7, 8-1) need a victory to hang onto their one game advantage over Liberty, while the Blue Hose (9-15, 4-5) look to capture a third straight Big South match.

Asheville is coming off of a decisive win over Radford on Saturday afternoon. Kelsey Benorden turned in her fifth consecutive double-double, Lauren Ficker tallied 11 kills while hitting .556, and Raquel Miotto contributed 16 digs. The Bulldogs appear to have shaken off their brief slump, and will try to claim one more home win before embarking on a four game road trip against some of the conference’s elite. On October 6, UNC Asheville faced Presbyterian on the road. The Bulldogs took the match in three sets, behind 17 kills and 9 digs from Benorden, and outhit Presbyterian, .245 to .106, in the process.

Junior Lisa Shelley, who ranks second in the Big South in kills, led the Blue Hose with 11 during the first meeting between these two teams. The defense was anchored by junior Elizabeth Heineman, who had ten digs (she is currently eighth in the conference in that category). On Tuesday, Presbyterian should also see a bigger contribution from junior Amanda Kettles, who struggled against the Bulldogs but has the seventh best hitting average in the league. The Blue Hose topped Charleston Southern and Radford in their last two conference outings and should provide Asheville with a tough challenge.

The Bulldogs currently lead the Big South in hitting percentage and rank second in opponents’ hitting percentage, which goes a long way to explain their success this year. If UNC Asheville comes out on top, it will be the first time since 2005 that the Bulldogs have achieved a 20-win season. First serve will be at 7:00 p.m.

Go Bulldogs!!

Volleyball Takes on Radford in Annual Dig Pink Match

UNC Asheville will resume its pursuit of the Big South volleyball championship on Saturday afternoon when it takes on Radford in the annual Dig Pink match. Together with the Side-Out Foundation, the Bulldogs will do their part to support the fight against breast cancer. The team will wear pink jerseys during the match and auction them off afterwards to raise money for this worthy cause. Donations can also be made at the match and on the UNC Asheville athletic department website.

The Bulldogs (18-7, 7-1) have stumbled a bit of late, falling to Coastal Carolina and East Tennessee State in their last two contests. Asheville still holds a one game lead in the Big South, but will need a victory on Saturday to remain ahead of Liberty, Winthrop, and Coastal. On September 25, the Bulldogs edged Radford on the road, 3-2. The star of that match was Lauren Ficker, who came up with 16 kills (while hitting .455) and 14 digs for her only double-double of the year. Asheville also got strong performances from Raquel Miotto (27 digs), Cindi Miller (13 kills), and the Holliday sisters (a combined 23 digs). The Bulldogs played the match without the injured Kelsey Benorden, who brings a streak of four consecutive double-doubles into Saturday’s match.

Asheville coach Julie Torbett argues that Radford (11-14, 1-8) is a much better team than its record indicates, and the squad certainly played at a high level in the September match. Four Highlanders registered double figure kills, and three had at least ten digs. Radford was paced by senior Lauren Clary, who tallied 17 kills and 8 digs while hitting .400. Freshman Desiree Aramburu, who ranks eighth in the conference in assists, posted 52 in the match to go with 5 kills and 10 digs. Junior Kiley Kent, second in service aces behind Miotto, had 3, along with 14 digs. The Highlanders lone conference win came against High Point on September 29, and the team has dropped six consecutive Big South matches since. Radford did break up the overall losing streak on October 13, edging North Carolina Central, 3-2.

The match on Saturday should be a battle, as Asheville fights to hang onto first place in the conference. Come out to the Justice Center to support the Bulldogs and the Side-Out Foundation! First serve is at 2:00.

Go Bulldogs!!!

Volleyball Suffers First Home Loss of the Season

UNC Asheville suffered its first home loss of the 2009 season on Tuesday night, falling to East Tennessee State in five sets. Paired with Saturday’s defeat at Coastal Carolina, this is the first time the Bulldogs (18-7, 7-1) have lost back-to-back matches in over a month. ETSU (7-14, 5-7) put together a strong effort in the match, breaking a four-game losing streak and ending a long road trip on a positive note.

The Buccaneers came out on a tear, quickly building an advantage in the first set that the Bulldogs were unable to surmount. Asheville took control in the second set, cruising to a 25-18 victory. In the third set it appeared the see-saw battle would continue, as ETSU jumped out to an early lead again. This time, the Bulldogs battled back to tie the set at 23, but back-to-back kills from McKayla Barber and Desiree Dyck quelled the rally. Asheville again claimed a decisive lead early in the fourth set, but allowed an ETSU run to tie the score late in the set before shutting the door with a Rachel Guinane kill. The pattern continued into the fifth set, where ETSU seized an 8-2 advantage. Following a timeout, the Bulldogs closed the gap to 14-12, but Jen Neice found a hole in the Asheville defense for the decisive point.
ETSU only used eight players in the match, but they were exceedingly productive. Five Bucs recorded double-digit kills, and Neice finished with nine. Barber was the leading scorer with 15 kills, and also led her team with a .458 attack percentage. Four different players reached double figures in digs for ETSU, as Whitney Cogburn led the way with 16. Senior Amanda Youell gave the Bulldogs fits in all aspects of the game, tallying 10 kills, a .412 hitting average, 52 assists, and 7 digs.

Several Bulldogs turned in stellar individual performances during the match. In a milestone match, senior Raquel Miotto had 24 digs to vault from seventh to fifth on the all-time NCAA leaderboard. Kelsey Benorden posted a match-high 19 kills along with 10 digs for her 11th double-double of the season. Lauren Ficker continued to attack with precision, hitting .348 with 10 kills. Bridgett Holliday also had one of her best matches of the season, contributing 14 digs to the effort. Team defense seemed to be the greatest struggle for the Bulldogs. Asheville allowed ETSU to hit .253 as a team – well over the Bucs’ average mark (.185) and the Bulldogs’ average allowance (.170).

A team unaccustomed to losing streaks, Asheville will look to right the ship on Saturday night when they resume conference play, hosting Radford (11-14, 1-8) at the Justice Center. The match will be the annual Dig Pink event, to raise money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. UNC Asheville players will wear pink uniforms for the match, which will be auctioned off to benefit the Sideout Foundation. The match will begin at 2pm.

Volleyball Preview: ETSU

Now at the halfway point in their conference schedule, the Bulldogs will take a break from Big South play on Tuesday night as they take on East Tennessee State. UNC Asheville (18-6, 7-1) will try to rebound from its first conference loss of the season, while the Buccaneers (6-14, 5-7 Atlantic Sun) look to shake a four match losing skid.

After struggling to a 1-7 non-conference record to open the season, ETSU jumped out to a 5-3 mark in conference play before embarking on a five game road trip. The Buccaneers have lost each of the first four contests, but will look to reverse that trend at the Justice Center on Tuesday. In its only match to date against a Big South opponent, ETSU was shut out on the road by Liberty on September 4. The Bucs also split their two matches with USC Upstate, a team UNC Asheville blanked in its only other battle with an Atlantic Sun foe this season. The ETSU attack is led by juniors Alysa Long, who ranks sixth in the Atlantic Sun in hitting percentage (.310), and Whitney Cogburn, who leads the team in kills and is second in digs. Senior captain Amanda Youell is fifth in the conference in assists.

The Bulldogs’ impressive unbeaten run in conference play finally came to an end on Saturday afternoon at the hands of Coastal Carolina, a team that is unbeaten at home this season. The match lasted five sets, with four different Asheville players recording double digit kills (Kelsey Benorden, Lauren Ficker, Cindi Miller, and Jenna Dover). Benorden delivered her 10th double-double of the season, while Raquel Miotto posted a match-high 26 digs to move into seventh place on the NCAA all-time list. Despite the loss, UNC Asheville remains in sole possession of first place in the Big South. Liberty fell 3-1 to a rapidly improving High Point team, and is now locked in a three-way tie for second place with Coastal Carolina and Winthrop.
The match will begin at 7:00 Tuesday evening, and can also be viewed online through the Big South Network.

Go Bulldogs!!

Road Warriors

While women’s soccer is at home this weekend for a pivotal two game set, volleyball and men’s soccer are both out of town for conference showdowns of their own. Volleyball travels to South Carolina to face two of the Big South’s best, Winthrop and Coastal Carolina, while men’s soccer heads north to square off against VMI.

For the second straight match, first place in the Big South will be on the line for the Bulldogs (17-5, 6-0) when they battle Winthrop (13-6, 5-1) this evening. The Eagles have won five straight since dropping their conference opener to Liberty in five sets. Winthrop has posted both the highest hitting percentage and the lowest opponents’ hitting percentage in conference play this far. Junior Kaley Viola has been outstanding – she leads the conference in kills, and ranks seventh in hitting percentage and ninth in digs. Senior Kelley Taylor and freshman Baylee Stachan are also among the top ten in hitting, junior Kelsey Hall leads the league in assists, and junior libero Ginnie Talley is fourth in digs.

The Bulldogs will be challenged again on Saturday afternoon by Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers (10-9, 4-2) are fourth in the Big South and have won two straight, their only conference losses coming against Winthrop and Liberty. The Chanticleer attack is led by juniors Chelsy Kimes (second in the Big South in kills) and Megan Bickford (third in hitting percentage). Senior Jill Nyhof leads the conference in blocks, and senior Megan Pollard ranks third in digs. A strong showing this weekend would give UNC Asheville some much-needed breathing room atop the conference standings.

Men’s soccer will travel to Lexington, Virginia, to face VMI on Saturday morning. The Keydets (2-8-1, 1-1-0) are coming off their first conference victory of the season, a 2-0 home win over Gardner-Webb on Wednesday afternoon. The Bulldogs also collected their first Big South win in their last outing, defeating Radford on Saturday. The Keydets rank near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories, but have been kept in games by junior goalkeeper Brian Sowell, who ranks first in saves per game and third in save percentage. Junior Brian Harding is the leading scorer, with five points on the year. The match gives the Bulldogs a great chance to pick up another conference win on their current four-game away stand.

Volleyball Alone On Top

The Bulldogs solidified their position atop the Big South standings over the weekend with two huge conference wins at the Justice Center. UNC Asheville (17-5, 6-0) shut out High Point on Friday evening, and then defeated Liberty on Saturday afternoon to take sole possession of first place in the conference.

It was a team effort for the Bulldogs against High Point (11-11, 1-5) on Friday night. Kelsey Benorden posted a match-high 12 kills, but Lauren Ficker contributed 11 while hitting .412, and Cindi Miller added 9 to go with a .500 hitting percentage. On the defensive end, Raquel Miotto had 16 digs and Bridget Holliday came up with 13. Asheville also collected 9 blocks in the match, with Ficker tallying 4 and Jenna Dover and Holly Shelton each with 3. The Bulldogs outlasted High Point in a tough first game, 25-21, and then were able to pull away in the next two, winning 25-17 and 25-18.

On Saturday afternoon, Asheville tackled Liberty, the only remaining team unbeaten in conference play. The star of the match was Miller, who had a career-high 22 kills while hitting .500 for the second straight outing. Miller had a particularly strong showing in the decisive fourth set. Benorden and Ficker combined for an additional 24 kills, and three Bulldogs tallied double-digit digs - Miotto (16), Benorden (16), and Brooke Holliday (13). The match seemed destined to go five sets, with the first decided by a 30-28 margin. Asheville had several key blocks to take the second set, 25-22, but Liberty came back from the break re-energized and stormed to a 25-16 victory in third set. In the fourth set, however, the Asheville attack proved too much for the Flames (10-8, 5-1). Behind a series of powerful kills from Miller and Ficker, the Bulldogs were able to shut the door for the 3-1 victory.

Cindi Miller’s outstanding performance was recognized this afternoon when she was named Big South Player of the Week. In addition to the two matches this weekend, Miller also had nine kills and two blocks in the Bulldogs’ road win over Presbyterian on Tuesday night. With Ficker leading the attack all season and Benorden now healthy, the emergence of Miller makes Asheville’s front line truly formidable.

The Bulldogs will have the week off, but return to action over the weekend against two of the conference’s best. Asheville will travel to Rock Hill, S.C., on Friday night to take on second-place Winthrop (13-6, 5-1), followed by a Saturday afternoon battle with fourth-place Coastal Carolina (9-9, 3-2) in Conway, S.C. If the Bulldogs are able to come away from this road trip with their perfect conference mark in tact, they will be the clear favorite to claim the Big South regular season title.

Volleyball Preview: High Point

The Bulldogs will look to remain unbeaten in conference play on Friday night as they take on High Point. UNC Asheville (15-5, 4-0) enters the match having won eight of its last nine, and tied for first in the Big South with preseason favorite Liberty. The High Point Panthers (10-10, 0-4) have struggled early in their conference schedule, but will look to get back on track against the Bulldogs.

High Point was picked fourth in the Big South preseason poll, and turned in several quality non-conference wins, including victories over North Carolina State and Charlotte. Conference play has been less kind to the Panthers, who were defeated at home by Big South powers Winthrop and Coastal Carolina before falling in a pair of five-set battles on the road against Radford and Presbyterian. On Tuesday night, the Panthers found their way back into the win column, easily defeating North Carolina A&T. Despite its record, High Point enters the match with a Big South-leading opponents’ hitting percentage of .163 (UNC Asheville ranks second at .169). In juniors Megan Smith and Stephanie Wallin, the Panthers have two players in the top ten in the conference in kills. Junior libero Julie Hershkowitz is second in digs behind Asheville’s Raquel Miotto.

Asheville has reeled off an impressive streak of victories to open its conference slate, culminating with a 3-0 victory over Presbyterian on Tuesday night. The Bulldogs’ senior leadership has led the charge all season. Middle blocker Lauren Ficker ranks third in the Big South in hitting percentage and seventh in kills. Libero Raquel Miotto leads the conference in both digs and service aces. Asheville has grown even stronger with the return of junior outside hitter Kelsey Benorden. The preseason all-conference selection shone against Presbyterian, contributing 17 kills, 9 digs, and a .464 hitting percentage to the effort. In 2008, the Bulldogs split a pair of matches against the Panthers, with each taking five sets to decide. Friday night’s match gives Asheville a great opportunity to build momentum for its showdown with Liberty on Saturday.

Go Bulldogs!!

Volleyball Preview: Charleston Southern

The Bulldogs will look to remain undefeated in conference play tomorrow night when they host Charleston Southern at the Justice Center. Something will have to give in the match, as the Buccaneers (10-7, 1-1) boast the Big South’s best hitting percentage at .250, while the Bulldogs (13-5, 2-0) lead the conference in opponent hitting percentage, allowing just .167.

Charleston Southern had a six-game win streak broken up on Tuesday night, losing at home to Winthrop in consecutive sets. Just three nights before, Buccaneers had opened conference play with a convincing three set victory over Presbyterian. CSU has faced a number of the same opponents as UNC Asheville this season, and had little difficulty dispatching the Citadel, South Carolina State, and Savannah State. In the opening weekend of the season, however, the Bucs fell in straight sets to North Carolina State, a team that the Bulldogs topped en route to their USC Upstate Invitational championship.

Preseason all-conference selection Amanda Hill has lived up to the hype thus far for the Bucs. Her .312 hitting percentage ranks her fourth in the Big South, and she is second in the conference in kills and ninth in digs. Fellow junior Cori Holeman is also a key component of the dangerous CSU attack, ranking eighth in attack percentage and second in blocks.

The Bulldogs have had a week to rest since an inspired, come-from-behind victory at Radford last Friday night. Middle blocker Lauren Ficker was the star of that performance, with 16 kills and 14 digs. The senior’s .339 season hitting percentage is second-best in the conference. Asheville has also been able to rely on consistently outstanding performances from senior libero Raquel Miotto, who leads the conference in digs and ranks second in service aces, and from junior setter Rachel Guinane, who is eighth in assists and has a team-high .379 hitting percentage (Guinane does not have enough total attacks to qualify for the Big South leaderboard).

UNC Asheville and Charleston Southern split their two matches last season, with each taking five sets to decide. Tomorrow night’s battle should be equally competitive as the teams battle for position in the conference standings.

Go Bulldogs!!!

Volleyball Tops Radford; Men's Soccer Unable to Hold Off Kentucky

The UNC Asheville volleyball team consolidated its position atop the Big South Conference standings on Friday night with a hard-fought victory in five sets on the road against conference rival Radford. The Bulldogs (13-5, 2-0) rallied from a 2-1 deficit, winning consecutive sets to take the match from the Highlanders (9-8, 0-2).

Asheville was once again driven by standout performances from seniors Lauren Ficker (16 kills, .455 hitting percentage, 14 digs) and Raquel Miotto (27 digs), but the match saw exceptional performances from a number of Bulldogs. Sophomore Cindi Miller added 13 kills, junior Rachel Guinane had 47 assists to go with 6 kills, and seniors Brooke and Bridget Holliday totaled 13 and 10 digs, respectively. It was also a big night for Asheville’s freshmen. Playing in front of family and friends from her nearby hometown of Christianburg, Chelsie Kenley recorded eight kills, two blocks, and two digs. Holly Shelton turned in a team-high four blocks, along with seven kills. The Bulldogs faced a varied attack from Radford. Four different Highlanders posted double-digit kills, including senior Lauren Clary who had a match-high 17.

The Bulldogs will be back in action this Friday night (October 2) when they take on Charleston Southern (9-6, 1-0) at the Justice Center in an early key matchup in the Big South conference title hunt.

The men’s soccer team traveled to Lexington yesterday to take on national power Kentucky. Defense reigned in the first half and the match remained scoreless headed into intermission, thanks in part to two critical saves from Lassi Hurskainen. It was Asheville that broke the silence first when, in the 51^st minute, freshman David Wood delivered a cross to sophomore Bryan Bartels who beat the goalkeeper with a line-drive header for the 1-0 advantage. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs’ lead over the 20^th ranked Wildcats would prove short-lived. Kentucky responded with two goals in the 54^th minute to claim the lead and then cemented the advantage with the match’s final goal, in the 83^rd minute. Goalkeeper Dan Williams made four saves in the second half (equaling Hurskainen’s match total) to keep the Asheville attack at bay. The Wildcats outshot the Bulldogs 24-7, and held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.

Asheville will be in action at Greenwood Field tomorrow for its final tune-up before conference play begins. The Bulldogs (3-5-1) take on East Tennessee State (1-3-2) at 4pm. The Buccaneers have performed well against some of the nation’s best this season, defeating Virginia Tech and forcing double overtime before falling to second-ranked North Carolina. Admission to the match is free, and it can also be viewed online on the Big South Network.

Volleyball Outlasts Gardner-Webb, 3-1

The Big South-leading Bulldogs opened conference play with a big win last night, defeated Gardner-Webb in four sets at the Justice Center. It wasn’t always pretty for the Bulldogs (12-5, 1-0), but the team managed to put together a decisive win behind the senior leadership of Lauren Ficker and Raquel Miotto. Gardner-Webb (5-10, 0-1) played with tenacious effort in the final two sets, and had four players with double-digit digs and three with double-digit kills.

Asheville was in control for most of the first set behind 5 kills from Ficker and 6 digs from Miotto, and came away with a 25-20 win. The second set was a back-and-forth battle, but the Bulldogs broke away with a late run to take the set, 25-22. Not ready to give in, Gardner-Webb came out swinging in the third set, taking the lead on an early 7-0 run and never looking back on its way to a 25-18 victory. The intensity level was high in the fourth set, and an 8-1 surge from the Bulldogs was quickly erased. Finally, with the score knotted at 24, senior Brooke Holliday and sophomore Cindi Miller came up with back-to-back kills to put Gardner-Webb away.

Ficker finished the match with 13 kills and 10 digs for her second double-double of the season. Miller was also in double-figures for the Bulldogs with 11 kills. In addition to her 31 assists, junior setter Rachel Guinane contributed 7 kills with a .545 hitting percentage. Miotto added 23 digs to her Big South-leading total. Also instrumental in the victory was freshman Holly Shelton, whose 8 blocks were the highest total posted by a Bulldog this season. Laura Wilcox was Gardner-Webb’s top scorer with 13 kills, and Regina Feagin led the Runnin’ Bulldogs with 14 digs. As a team, Asheville held a decisive advantage in attack percentage, hitting .250 to Gardner-Webb’s .140.

The Bulldogs will be back in action on Friday night when they travel to Radford. The Highlanders (9-6, 0-0) are currently second in the Big South, and split a pair of matches against UNC Asheville last season.

Volleyball Preview: Gardner-Webb

UNC Asheville opens its conference schedule tonight at the Justice Center, taking on the Runnin’ Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb University. Asheville (11-5) enters tonight’s match leading the Big South and looking to improve upon an impressive stretch of non-conference play, highlighted by a first-place finish in the USC Upstate Invitational tournament. Gardner-Webb (5-9) currently occupies seventh place in the conference, but the two clubs are much more evenly matched than their records indicate.

In its matches against teams that UNC Asheville has also played, Gardner-Webb has had strikingly similar results. In two matches against Wofford, the Runnin’ Bulldogs lost the first in five sets, and the second in three sets – exactly the same outcomes as in Asheville’s two matches against the Terriers. Gardner-Webb defeated the only other common opponent, Western Carolina, by a 3-1 margin in Cullowhee (Asheville defeated Western in straight sets at the Justice Center earlier this month). The Runnin’ Bulldogs will also enter tonight’s match with the momentum gained from a hard-fought, five set victory over Davidson (2-11) on Saturday night. Gardner-Webb is led by senior Regina Feagin, who ranks second in the Big South with 469 assists and leads the team with 137 digs, and by sophomore Laura Wilcox, who ranks sixth in the conference with a .296 hitting percentage. The Runnin’ Bulldogs have also been improved greatly by the addition of freshman Molly Rhyne, who has a team-high 146 kills to go with 108 digs on the season.

The Bulldogs are coming off a strong performance in the South Carolina State Spikefest tournament over the weekend. Behind standout performances from seniors Lauren Ficker and Raquel Miotto, Asheville cruised past Winston-Salem State and Hampton in straight sets on Friday. The Bulldogs continued to look sharp on Saturday morning, defeating Providence 3-1 before having their four game winning streak snapped at the hands of Wofford. Ficker was selected to the all-tournament team and Miotto was named top libero. Asheville is still battling the injury bug – junior Kelsey Benorden will again be inactive tonight, and junior Jenna Dover and sophomore Cindi Miller are playing hurt. With injuries plaguing the front line, Ficker has taken command. Her .331 hitting percentage ranks second in the Big South, and her team-high 174 kills are seventh-best in the conference. Along the back, Miotto continues to dominate, leading the conference in both digs (5.25 per set) and service aces (0.61).

UNC Asheville has won its last three matches against Gardner-Webb, including victories of 3-0 and 3-1 last year in Asheville and Boiling Springs, respectively. Tonight’s match is a critical opportunity to get an early conference win and build momentum for Friday night’s showdown on the road against second-place Radford (9-6). The match begins at 7pm, and admission is free for students. Alternatively, the game can be viewed online on the Big South Network, beginning at 6:50.

Go Bulldogs!!!

Previewing the Weekend Tournaments

This is an important weekend for UNC Asheville sports, with the volleyball, men’s soccer and women’s soccer teams each participating in their final tournament of the regular season.

The volleyball team is in Orangeburg, South Carolina, for the South Carolina State Spikefest Invitational. The Bulldogs got off to a strong start earlier this afternoon, blanking Winston-Salem State 3-0 for the second time this season. Asheville (9-4) was led in the match by senior Lauren Ficker, who recorded 9 kills with a .500 hitting percentage. Freshman Chelsie Kenley contributed 8 kills, and senior Raquel Miotto had 12 digs. The Bulldogs are back in action this afternoon against Hampton (currently underway). Hampton (2-7) has lost seven consecutive matches headed into the tournament. UNC Asheville faced the Pirates last year, at the USC Upstate tournament, and came away with a 3-0 victory, but the Bulldogs will have to contend with junior standouts Brittany Wynne (56 kills, 25 digs on the season) and Aaryn Harrison (55 kills, 24 digs). On Saturday morning, Asheville will square off against Providence. The Friars (4-9) have a four-game losing streak of their own they look to shed at the tournament. Top performers for Providence include sophomore middle blocker Lauren Fletcher, whose 137 kills and .275 attack percentage are both team highs, and sophomore setter Carly Morrison (31 kills, 352 assists, 89 digs). Because the Friars have not faced Asheville (or indeed any area school) in recent years, it is difficult to set expectations for the match. The same cannot be said, however, for Saturday afternoon’s rematch against Wofford. The Terriers (9-2) are now winners of eight straight, having just defeated Providence - a mark that will likely be extended to nine this evening when they take on Winston-Salem State. Wofford defeated Asheville in a five set battle during last weekend’s Winston-Salem State Invitational. Several Terriers turned in outstanding performances during that match, including senior outside hitter Shanna Hughes (24 kills, .468 attacking, 12 digs), junior outside hitter Stacy Byrd (12 kills, 20 digs), and senior libero Sarah Palmer (25 digs). The Bulldogs are still contending with injuries to a number of key players, including junior standout Kelsey Benorden. To have a shot at avenging their loss last weekend, Asheville will need a strong showing both from veteran leaders like Ficker and Miotto and from new talents like Kenley and fellow freshman Holly Shelton.

Prediction: Asheville 3, Hampton 1; Asheville 3, Providence 2; Wofford 3, Asheville 2.

Men’s soccer will be in Nashville later this evening, to open play in the Hyatt Place Select Invitational on the campus of Lipscomb University. The Bulldogs (1-4-1) will take on Lipscomb (2-2-1) at 7:30 this evening. The Bison are a strong squad whose only losses came at the hands of national powers Michigan and Michigan State. Asheville fell to Lipscomb by a 3-1 margin in Nashville last year. The Bison’s attack is anchored by sophomore Andrew Chamberlain and redshirt junior Miguel DaSilva, each of whom scored goals against the Bulldogs last season, along with freshman Alexander Faulk, who leads the team in goals scored. At noon on Sunday, the Bulldogs will take on Belmont (0-3-1). Asheville defeated the Bruins one year ago in Steve Cornish’s 100th career win. Branden Lassen had his first career goal in the 3-2 victory, and Bryan George recorded the game-winner. Belmont’s offensive leaders this season are freshman Brandon Tarr and sophomore Edgardo Padilla, while senior midfielder Justin Ferguson provides leadership on both ends of the pitch.

Prediction: Lipscomb 2, Asheville 1; Asheville 1, Belmont 0.

Finally, women’s soccer will be in Cullowhee this weekend for the Catamount Classic Tournament. The Bulldogs (3-2-0) will face two very tough opponents, beginning with a match this evening against Elon. The Phoenix (2-2-1) have an undefeated record thus far against Big South opponents, taking out High Point and Coastal Carolina earlier in the season. Players to watch for Elon include senior Molly Calpin and freshman Ceci Jensen, who lead the team in scoring, and senior Sydney Little, who has been outstanding in goal this season (17 saves, .850 save percentage). Up next will be the tournament-hosting Lady Catamounts (2-3-1) who have played very well this season against a number of national powerhouses. Western came up one goal shy of upsetting both Tennessee and Miami, and played Dayton to a draw earlier this month. The Lady Catamounts also defeated Gardner-Webb in their only matchup against a Big South program to date. Western’s stars include Rachael Shomper and Nikki Lombardo, who lead the team in scoring, and junior goalkeeper Caitlin Williams, who has played every minute of the season, recording 29 saves with a .829 save percentage, despite the caliber of the Lady Catamounts’ opponents. The Bulldogs did not face Western last year, but lost in each of the last three matches between the two. Extending back to last season, each of the last seven games for UNC Asheville have been decided by one goal, so there is reason to expect the Bulldogs be competitive this weekend. The play of freshman Chloe McCleary-Small (3 goals, 1 assist) has been very encouraging on the offensive end. If she and the other Asheville attackers are able to find the net this weekend, the Bulldogs will be an upset threat in both matches.

Prediction: Elon 2, Asheville 1; Western Carolina 1, Asheville 0.

Volleyball Off to a Strong Start at Winston-Salem State

The Bulldogs have extended their win streak to 6 matches, knocking off Savannah State in only 45 minutes of work. Playing without star outside hitter Kelsey Benorden, who will sit out the Winston-Salem State Invitational Tournament due to an ankle injury, UNC Asheville (7-2) easily defeated the Tigers (2-6) in straight sets.

The Bulldogs are in for a weightier challenge this evening, however, when they take on Conference USA opponent East Carolina (3-4). The Pirates finished near the bottom of the conference last season but are a dramatically improved squad, and lost only one senior. ECU’s middling record can be attributed to the strength of the schedule they have faced - the Pirates’ opponents have posted a .674 winning percentage to date. East Carolina was also a winner this afternoon, defeating tournament host Winston-Salem State in three sets. The Pirates are led by a trio of seniors - outside hitters Stephanie Turner (69 kills, 47 digs) and Melissa Zentner (58 kills, 26 digs), and setter Hannah Fenker (201 assists, 32 digs).

Asheville will then face another test tomorrow afternoon against Wofford (3-2). The Terriers are currently second place in the Southern Conference South, and already have two wins on the season against a Big South opponent (Gardner-Webb). Standout players for the Terriers include seniors Shanna Hughes (37 kills, 50 digs) and Joanna Suddath (20 kills, 131 assists, 33 digs). The Bulldogs fell to Wofford, 3-1, at last year’s USC Upstate Tournament. In that match, Hughes had 25 kills and 12 digs with a .512 hitting percentage. Suddath also played well, with 5 kills, 47 assists, and 7 digs.

Tournament play will wrap up at 4pm on Saturday with a matchup against Winston-Salem State. The Lady Rams have won only one set so far this season on their way to a 0-7 record. The host school did closely contest one set today against East Carolina, but came up just short. Top performers for Winston-Salem are senior outside hitter Annika Barnwell (48 kills, 30 digs) and junior libero Erica Cole (team-high 67 digs).

The absence of Benorden will be felt by the Bulldogs all weekend, but this is a talented UNC Asheville team with good depth, and a lot of momentum. Both tonight’s match and tomorrow’s against Wofford will be battles, but if Raquel Miotto, Lauren Ficker and the rest of the Bulldogs are able to maintain their high level of play, Asheville has a good chance to come out on top.

Predictions: Asheville 3, East Carolina 2; Asheville 3, Wofford 2; Asheville 3, Winston-Salem State 0; Raquel Miotto breaks the UNC Asheville/Big South digs record in the second set of the Winston-Salem State match.

Recapping a Huge Weekend for the Bulldogs

The long weekend was a very successful one for UNC Asheville athletics, with women’s soccer, men’s soccer, and volleyball all in action. Over a total of seven matches from Thursday evening through Monday, no Asheville team was defeated.

Women’s soccer kicked off the weekend on Thursday night when they traveled to Spartanburg to take on non-conference rival Wofford. Senior McKenna Stockhausen recorded her first goal of the season in the 18th minute of the match on a long pass from Megan Bradham to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage. Thanks to a stellar combined effort in goal by freshman Megan Dent and senior Veronica Lazar, that was the only goal Asheville would need. Lazar made four saves in the second half and the back line provided tough defense on the road to hang on for the shutout victory. The next challenge for women’s soccer came on Sunday afternoon, when they faced another challenge on the road against East Tennessee State in Johnson City. This time, it was an underclassman that delivered for the Bulldogs. Freshman Chloe McCleary-Small, a former Asheville High standout, notched an unassisted goal in the 58th minute, the first of her career. The Lady Bucs responded with a strong attack for the final 20 minutes of the match, but the Bulldogs held on for the 1-0 victory behind another four save performance from Lazar. Coach Michele Cornish continued her goalkeeper-by-committee approach, with Dent playing the first half and Lazar the second, and the result was the Bulldogs’ second consecutive shutout. Asheville (2-1) is currently in sole possession of second place in the Big South. The Bulldogs will play a huge home match tomorrow afternoon at Greenwood Field against undefeated, Southern Conference leading Furman (match preview to follow later today).

Men’s soccer played the only home match of the weekend, facing off against Brevard College on Friday afternoon at Greenwood Field. Although Asheville took a while in finding the net, the Bulldogs dominated early. Brevard was not allowed to attempt a shot in the first half. The scoreless tie was broken in the 40th minute, when sophomore Branden Lassen scored on a strike from the top of the box, assisted by sophomore Alex Koslick and freshman Zachary Odum. In the second half, the Bulldogs widened the gap. Sophomore midfielder Connor Holzinger hit the upper left-hand corner of the net on a brilliantly placed free kick from about 20 yards out in the 46th minute. In the 73rd minute, Odum beat the Brevard keeper from 15 yards for the 3-0 advantage, with Koslick recording his second assist of the day. The Tornadoes showed some signs of life in the final 25 minutes, attempting their only two shots on goal in the match, but sophomore Lassi Hurskainen and freshman Derrick Filip were each able to record a save. The young Bulldogs showed real promise during the match, with Holzinger delivering a stellar performance on both sides of the ball, and Odum (who was named man of the match) demonstrating his offensive prowess in only his second match in the blue and white. On Monday evening, Asheville faced a stiff challenge on the road against Wofford. The Terriers, one of the top teams in the Southern Conference, had the Bulldogs on the defensive throughout the match, recording 26 shots to Asheville’s 5. Nonetheless, UNC Asheville (1-1-1) was able to escape with a 0-0 draw. Filip, making his first career start in place of the injured Hurskainen, played all 110 minutes in goal and recorded 10 saves. The biggest moment of the game came in the 21st minute, when Asheville was whistled for a handball in the box and Wofford was awarded with a penalty kick. Filip made the critical save on the ensuing shot from Armin Kinigadner. The Bulldogs’ best scoring opportunity came in the 108th minute, when a header from sophomore Jake Sides was saved by Wofford keeper Thomas Hunter. The draw places Asheville in a tie for 6th place in the Big South. The Bulldogs will face another uphill battle this weekend at the Davidson adidas Classic. Asheville will face undefeated Davidson on Friday, and then Big East heavy Georgetown on Sunday.

Fresh off their convincing victory over Western Carolina on Wednesday, volleyball traveled to Spartanburg over the weekend to take part in the USC Upstate Invitational Tournament. The Bulldogs’ performance was nothing less than dominant. Asheville opened play on Friday against tournament favorite North Carolina State. After dropping the opening set, the Bulldogs went on to win three straight to upset the Wolfpack for the second year in a row. Asheville was led by senior Lauren Ficker (14 kills), junior Kelsey Benorden (12 kills, 19 digs), junior Rachel Guinane (career high 9 kills, 42 assists), and senior Raquel Miotto (24 digs). The Bulldogs faced two more matches on Saturday, but the first set against NC State proved to be the only one that Asheville would lose at the tournament. The first matchup of the day came against the Citadel, a team the Bulldogs defeated in a dramatic five-set match on August 29th. On Saturday, Asheville cruised to a three-set victory. Ficker (14 kills), Benorden (10 kills, 16 digs), and Miotto (19 digs) again paced the Bulldogs. The final test came against USC Upstate. Asheville easily defeated the tournament host in straight sets, holding the Spartans to a .000 attack percentage and never allowing more than 15 points in a set. A familiar group of players led the way for the Bulldogs – Ficker (12 kills), Benorden (14 kills, 12 digs), and Miotto (16 digs). As soon as the action on the court stopped, the accolades began to roll in for the tournament champion Bulldogs (6-2). Ficker, with 40 kills and a .405 attack percentage, was named tournament MVP. Joining her on the all-tournament team are Benorden, who now has six double-doubles on the season, Miotto, who is now only 64 digs shy of becoming the Big South and Asheville’s all-time leader, and Guinane. Earlier today, we were notified that Lauren Ficker has been named the Big South Offensive Player of the Week, and Raquel Miotto the Big South Defensive Player of the Week. Asheville is now in first place in the Big South. The Bulldogs will take a much-deserved rest this week, but will have another busy weekend, as they travel to the Winston-Salem State Tournament, beginning on Saturday with matches against Savannah State (2-4) and East Carolina (2-4).

Volleyball Preview: Western Carolina

The Bulldogs will play their first home match of the 2009 season tonight, when they face off against area rival Western Carolina at the Justice Center. The Catamounts hold a 23-17 all-time advantage in matchups against the Bulldogs, but Asheville came out on top last season with a victory in four sets in Cullowhee.

Western Carolina is a much improved team from last season, when they posted a 6-26 record (3-15 conference) for a last-place finish in the Southern Conference North Division. This can be attributed in part to Western’s grueling non-conference schedule - the Catamounts still turned in victories over Elon and the Citadel, both of which provided a real challenge for the Bulldogs in last weekend’s NCCU Invitational Tournament. The year is off to an equally demanding start for Western, which opened its season over the weekend at the Kentucky Invitational Tournament. There the Catamounts faced 21st-ranked Kentucky, reigning Sun-Belt champion Florida International, and Northwestern. Western lost all three matches in straight sets, but the early challenge has no doubt aided their preparation for tonight’s battle. The Catamounts return every starter from last season, and are led by senior setter Katie Hennessey, who was named to the Kentucky Invitational All-Tournament Team for her efforts last weekend. Other standouts include senior libero Liz Rondone, whose 439 digs led the team last year, senior middle blocker Amanda Kerr, and sophomore middle blocker Carrie Minogue, who led the Catamounts with 252 kills.

Asheville returns most of the key contributors from last year’s victory over Western. Kelsey Benorden (18 kills, 18 digs) and Lauren Ficker (16 kills, 8 digs) led the attack, with Raquel Miotto contributing 17 digs, and a 25 set, 10 dig performance from Kaitlyn McDaniel. Tonight, the Bulldogs will have the added benefit of freshmen Holly Shelton and Chelsie Kenley, who performed well in the NCCU tournament. The team will hope to carry some momentum into this match from Saturday night’s five set, come-from-behind victory over the Citadel. Asheville and Western know each other well, so we can expect a highly competitive match. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children. UNC Asheville students can attend at no charge. I will also be covering the game with live updates on the athletic department’s Twitter page, www.twitter.com/ashevilledogs

Prediction: UNC Asheville 3, Western Carolina 1

Bulldogs Weekend Recap

It was a big weekend for UNC Asheville athletics, with volleyball and women’s soccer opening regular season play. The volleyball schedule began with a bang, with the Bulldogs playing four matches over the course of two days at the RTP Hilton/NCCU Tournament in Durham. Play began Saturday with a dissapointing 3-1 loss to UNC Wilmington, despite strong performances from junior Kelsey Benorden (22 kills, 14 digs, .439 attack percentage), senior Raquel Miotto (24 digs), and freshman Holly Shelton (10 kills, .571 percentage). The Bulldogs rallied on Saturday evening, however, to defeat South Carolina State in straight games. The match turned out to be a momentous occasion for Miotto, who reached 2,000 career digs, becoming only the 2nd player in UNC Asheville and Big South history to pass this milestone. Offensively, the Bulldogs were driven by Benorden (9 kills) and senior Lauren Ficker (8 kills, .462). Junior Rachel Guinane also performed well, with 18 sets in the match.

On Saturday, Asheville fell in four sets to an Elon team that posted a perfect record over the weekend and looked to be the strongest at the tournament. The Bulldogs kept it close, taking the early lead in each set, but tournament MVP Traci Stewart and the Phoenix proved overpowering. Ficker was the leading attacker with 15 kills, Miotto recorded 17 digs, and Guinane had 31 sets to her credit. Later in the evening, the Bulldogs closed out the tournament on a high note by coming from behind to defeat the Citadel in five sets. Asheville was paced again by Benorden, who recorded her second double-double of the tournament with 20 kills and 14 digs, and by Miotto (18 digs) and Guinane (47 sets). The victory was a big confidence booster for the Bulldogs, and gives the team some much needed momentum headed into Wednesday night’s showdown with Western Carolina (7pm at the Justice Center). Two Bulldog players were recognized for their performances over the weekend. Kelsey Benorden was named to the All-Tournament team on Saturday, after racking up 64 kills over the four matches. This was followed by the announcement on Sunday that Holly Shelton has been named the Big South Volleyball Freshman of the Week. Shelton posted 31 kills and a .389 percentage for the tournament. The Bulldogs’ 2-2 record puts them in a three-way tie for second place in the Big South. Stay tuned for a preview of their home opener on the Bulldog Blog tomorrow.

Sunday’s match against Appalachian State turned out to be the season opener for women’s soccer, after inclement weather cost the Bulldogs the opportunity to challenge Clemson on Friday. Asheville lost the match 1-0, but head coach Michele Cornish was pleased with much of what she saw. The Bulldogs played a strong, statistically even match against a tough opponent, on the road. There were a few key scoring opportunities in the game, including two shots on goal by senior attacker McKenna Stockhausen, but the Bulldogs could not manage to convert. The Mountaineers’ Sydney Hill recorded the lone goal, beating Asheville keeper Veronica Lazar in the 14th minute. Lazar split netminding duties with freshman Megan Dent, who took over in the second half. Each recorded one save in the match. The Bulldogs will face another tough away game against a Southern Conference foe on Thursday, when they travel to Spartanburg to face Wofford at 6pm. The match can be viewed online through the Wofford athletics website at http://tiny.cc/wofford